greetings Flames fans, I've thought a cool idea for this draft would be to do a mock draft by going through each team forum in order of there pick in the first round and poll who they would take. whoever gets the most votes gets picked. and is taken off the list for the next team. with the 5th overall pick Carolina took Monahan with the other results just below. I'm hoping that by going through each team's forum I would get a better idea of who there team might select since those fans should know the most about there teams, so given the circumstances who would Calgary select 6th overall?

I think there's a chance the Lightening take Barkov, and then subsequently look to move Lecavalier while Drouin slides to the Predators. But other than that, I don't see much chance of a surprise coming in the first six picks of the draft. Although granted, there's still two months until then.

Hmm.. So I am the only one who wants to take the risk on Nicuskins upside? He has everything you want in a player: size, speed, hands, intensity. If he was Joe Johnson from Nova Scotia we would be all over him. A 1 year opt out from the KHL means he will likely be overseas as quickly as Lindholm, who is no question a talented player but would you take a Niklas Backstrom or David Krejci over Evgeni Malkin?

Hmm.. So I am the only one who wants to take the risk on Nicuskins upside? He has everything you want in a player: size, speed, hands, intensity. If he was Joe Johnson from Nova Scotia we would be all over him. A 1 year opt out from the KHL means he will likely be overseas as quickly as Lindholm, who is no question a talented player but would you take a Niklas Backstrom or David Krejci over Evgeni Malkin?

Except Nichushkin's primarily a winger and the comparisons to Malkin are stretching things. If his upside was truly that high, he'd be considered for first overall regardless of transfer concerns.

Hmm.. So I am the only one who wants to take the risk on Nicuskins upside? He has everything you want in a player: size, speed, hands, intensity. If he was Joe Johnson from Nova Scotia we would be all over him. A 1 year opt out from the KHL means he will likely be overseas as quickly as Lindholm, who is no question a talented player but would you take a Niklas Backstrom or David Krejci over Evgeni Malkin?

Nope, but everyone has talked themselves into believing that "best player available" excludes Russians and non-centres.

Hmm.. So I am the only one who wants to take the risk on Nicuskins upside? He has everything you want in a player: size, speed, hands, intensity. If he was Joe Johnson from Nova Scotia we would be all over him. A 1 year opt out from the KHL means he will likely be overseas as quickly as Lindholm, who is no question a talented player but would you take a Niklas Backstrom or David Krejci over Evgeni Malkin?

The red flags aren't worth it. He will be the next Radulov. It is already said he wants to defect from the KHL because he was traded, is that a guy you want to risk a potentially franchise changing draft pick on? I sure as **** don't. I wouldn't even touch him with any of our picks.

Nope, but everyone has talked themselves into believing that "best player available" excludes Russians and non-centres.

The best player available =/= most skilled player available. If someone wants to take a risk on a player who already has red flag that is their prerogative, but I do not want the Flames to do that.

I can't find the link right now but I remember a quote from a scout saying he was the stereotypical selfish Russian. The has was 1 dimensional and would berate his teammates when times were tough.

Why on earth would you pick a player like that over a guy like Lindholm or Monahan who project to be very good offensively and defensively without the red flags of being a potential cancer and defector?

The red flags aren't worth it. He will be the next Radulov. It is already said he wants to defect from the KHL because he was traded, is that a guy you want to risk a potentially franchise changing draft pick on? I sure as **** don't. I wouldn't even touch him with any of our picks.

The funny thing I was expecting to point out Galchenyuk & Grigerenko, but as I kept going their list became even more of a joke.

Yep. ISS is usually way off, and having said that though, last years draft was one of the weakest in recent memory. This draft seems to have a much better top end, and there has not been a lot of jostling in position in this years draft like there was last year.

Nichushkin is already set to make $10M over the next two years as an 18 and 19 year old. After that, he'll probably get something like $7.5M per. ELCs in the NHL just can't compete with that. He's already had trouble with his KHL team for Christ's sake. This is your prototypical Russian hockey player.

I won't be surprised if he never comes over. Hell, I won't be surprised if he falls out of the first round.

And even if he does, I don't want my prospect "developing" in the KHL. It's a selfish league.

Hmm.. So I am the only one who wants to take the risk on Nicuskins upside? He has everything you want in a player: size, speed, hands, intensity. If he was Joe Johnson from Nova Scotia we would be all over him. A 1 year opt out from the KHL means he will likely be overseas as quickly as Lindholm, who is no question a talented player but would you take a Niklas Backstrom or David Krejci over Evgeni Malkin?

Nichushkin is already set to make $10M over the next two years as an 18 and 19 year old. After that, he'll probably get something like $7.5M per. ELCs in the NHL just can't compete with that. He's already had trouble with his KHL team for Christ's sake. This is your prototypical Russian hockey player.

I won't be surprised if he never comes over. Hell, I won't be surprised if he falls out of the first round.

And even if he does, I don't want my prospect "developing" in the KHL. It's a selfish league.

This is just the Russian stigma at work again. That "trouble" he had, was him being unhappy at being sold to another team like a piece of meat. People keep wanting natural centres, but its not like we dont have 2 more picks in the 1st round. We lack 3 things: size, speed, and skill and this kid has got it. If he interviews well and it sounds like he will come over I would be ecstatic to take him at 6.

This is just the Russian stigma at work again. That "trouble" he had, was him being unhappy at being sold to another team like a piece of meat. People keep wanting natural centres, but its not like we dont have 2 more picks in the 1st round. We lack 3 things: size, speed, and skill and this kid has got it. If he interviews well and it sounds like he will come over I would be ecstatic to take him at 6.

Btw. I guarantee he wont fall out of the top 10.

Most people would have said the same thing about Grigorenko. The Russian factor is a real factor.

This is just the Russian stigma at work again. That "trouble" he had, was him being unhappy at being sold to another team like a piece of meat. People keep wanting natural centres, but its not like we dont have 2 more picks in the 1st round. We lack 3 things: size, speed, and skill and this kid has got it. If he interviews well and it sounds like he will come over I would be ecstatic to take him at 6.

Btw. I guarantee he wont fall out of the top 10.

I really hope he does. Nichuskin at 6th wouldn't make me very happy. Nichuskin at around 16th is another story